Bluegrass Signal

Saturdays 6:30-8pm

Traditional and contemporary bluegrass, usually thematically-based and often featuring Bay Area musicians, in an eclectic mix. Includes a weekly calendar of regional bluegrass concerts and events, often with musical previews. You can find out more at the Bluegrass Signal website.

On the April 11, 2015 edition of Bluegrass Signal, Peter Thompson celebrates 40 years of broadcasting with a program of live recordings by a few of his favorites, from the Stanley Brothers and Bill Monroe to the Kentucky Colonels and Hazel & Alice to the Good Ol’ Persons and Hot Rize to Mac Martin and Vern Williams. Music from the true vine!

On Saturday, March 21st, guest co-host Todd Gracyk joins Peter Thompson to present some of his favorites by Red Allen, originally released 1957-1969, and including live recordings, obscure 45s, radio shows, and a few classics. Red’s in the company of Frank Wakefield, the Osborne Brothers, Doyle Lawson, J.D. Crowe, David Grisman, and other bluegrass greats.

This Saturday at the special time of 5:00 - 8:00 pm, it's the Bluegrass Signal Fall Membership Drive Special! Great music from great thank-you gifts -- including Rounder's "Foggy Mountain Special: A Bluegrass Tribute to Earl Scruggs," the Kathy Kallick Band's "Time," and Foghorn Stringband's "Outshine the Sun" -- plus your great support at 1-800-525-9917 or "Donate Now" at kalw.org. Thanks in advance!

On Saturday (Aug. 18th) from 6:30 - 8:00 pm, the celebration of live bluegrass recordings continues on "Bluegrass Signal." Featured are the Good Ol' Persons (pictured) live in Canada and the Netherlands and Hot Rize live in Winfield, Kansas. Both bands were grounded in traditional bluegrass, and both took the music to some new places.

Peter Thompson continues his "Bluegrass Signal" celebration of live bluegrass recordings continues with a few songs from the 1973 Old & In the Way shows that made them the most influential bluegrass band between the pioneers and Alison Krauss. Also: one of those pioneers (the Stanley Brothers) plus the New Lost City Ramblers, Roscoe Holcomb, and Cousin Emmy - all from a 1966 tour of Germany. Airs 8/28 at 6:30pm; listen antime through 8/4 via KALW's Local Music Player.

Host Peter Thompson continues his broadcast of highlights from live performances. This week: two fabulous bluegrass concerts in the '70s: Mac Martin & the Dixie Travelers live in Pittsburgh (at a club where they played every Saturday night for many years), and J.D. Crowe & the New South live in Japan. Listen anytime until 7/28 via KALW's Local Music Player.

Throughout July & August, host Peter Thompson presents programs of live concert recordings. The series kicks off this week with highlights from two 1970 shows in New York with Doc & Merle Watson, plus Doc and the Nashville Bluegrass Band at MerleFest in 2006. Available for listening through Saturday 7/21/12 via KALW's Local Music Player.

Saturday on "Bluegrass Signal" - a celebration of the 45th anniversary of WAMU's first bluegrass radio show. On July 2, 1967, Dick Spottswood and Gary Henderson presented "Bluegrass Unlimited," an event that is being commemorated on www.bluegrasscountry.org -- and on KALW.

Host Peter Thompson offers some deep listening to four new releases from The Karl Shiflett & the Big Country Show, Audie Blaylock & Redline, Travers Chandler & Avery County, and the Rounder Tribute To Earl Scruggs with banjo players Craig Smith, David Talbot, Ron Stewart, and others. Listen anytime through 7/7 via KALW's Local Music Player.

Peter Thompson presents a variety of bluegrass bands recorded live (mostly in the 1970s), a traditional show on the weekend of the California Bluegrass Association's festival in Grass Valley. Included: Doc & Merle Watson (70), Mac Martin & the Dixie Travelers (71), Old & In the Way (73), Hot Rize (86), a variety of contemporary performers (06-11), and the pictured band, J.D.

Time for the annual break from the high lonesome sound as guest host Jose Segue returns with some of the latest and greatest of Bay Area Twang: roots Americana, honky-tonk, alt-country, rockabilly, western swing, country boogie/bop/rock, and more. Sure to be included: a new 45 rpm single from the B-Stars (Greg Yanito, Eric “Yang” Reedy, and friends).

Peter Thompson hosted a special 3-hour version of Bluegrass Signal this week. He featured music of Red Wine - the latest and greatest from Europe's premier bluegrass band; Loafer's Glory - combining traditional bluegrass and old time music; and the Evie Ladin Band (pictured) - evocative playing, clever songwriting, and a rhythmic tour de force! Listen anytime this week via KALW's Local Music Player.

Loafer's Glory is a band of SoCal musical vets: Herb Pedersen, Bill Bryson, Tom Sauber, and Patrick Sauber. To get you ready for their impending Bay Area visit, "Bluegrass Signal" host Peter Thompson welcomed them to the KALW studios on his April 7 broadcast.

On Saturday (3/31) from 6:30 - 8:00 pm, Bluegrass Signal producer Peter Thompson hosts Bay Area banjo players Larry Cohea, Bill Evans, Avram Siegel, and Ryan Breen to honor and reflect on the contributions of Earl Scruggs, who died on Wednesday. As a member of Bill Monroe's "classic" Blue Grass Boys, co-leader with Lester Flatt of the music's most influential band, the Foggy Mt.

On this week's Bluegrass Signal, host Peter Thompson shares "Cluck Old Hen Variations" by David A. Jaffe, performed by violinist Ann Elliot-Goldschmid, based on the traditional Appalachian banjo tune 'Cluck Old Hen,' which he’ll also share as originally performed by Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys.

Europe's premier bluegrass band, Red Wine, is coming to the Bay Area from their home in Genoa, Italy. Martino Coppo and Silvio Ferretti recently celebrated the band's 30th anniversary by adding a couple of 20-somethings to the group, and Red Wine sounds better than ever.

You'll hear music from six Red Wine releases, including their latest (a world-wide radio debut!), to get you ready for concerts in Mountain View, Berkeley, and Winters.